Happy Fun Books' plots normally involve some sort of far-fetched, made-up silliness. Tillie & Clementine & Mikey, though, is the first one based on a true story. It's about the time two young sisters adopted a baby brother (well, their parents adopted him, and they became big sisters). These three cool kids are my nieces and nephew. I met with my brother, sister-in-law, and their children in developing the story, and they were the final editors before the book went to print. There is still plenty of silliness in this book, but many of the lines and scenes really happened.

Mikey was adopted about the same time I had launched Happy Fun Books, so the young lad doesn't appear in the first two Tillie & Clementine stories. However, he can be spotted along with his sisters as "extras" in the subsequent two titles, Derrick and the Dinosaurs and Robert and the Robots. But now Mikey is a headliner. I'm glad he's part of the act and even gladder he's part of the family.

I hope this book inspires more adoptions by givng would-be parents and siblings confidence that they can open their hearts and provide a loving home for a child. Any new baby to a family represents a big change, but like Tillie said in a moment of joy, "I can't remember what life was like before Mikey."

- Dan Killeen, Oct 2018

Tillie and Clementine's friends reacted to the news, fueling the girls' doubts.

A family meeting was held in which Mommy and Daddy announce that they're going to adopt a baby.

The parents departed to adopt Mikey, leaving the girls with the grandparents. Clementine had warmed to the whole idea while Tillie remained in doubt.

The girls raised many concerns about adding to the family, and Mom and Dad patiently answered each one.

As they prepared the place for Mikey, not quite everyone was enthusiastic.

Mom and Dad met Mikey and spent a few days getting to know him.

The big moment arrived when the girls finally met their new little brother. What happened next? You'll have to get the book to find out, or just look at the cover again.

Tillie and Clementine walked into the airport to find their aunts, uncles, and cousins already there, ready to welcome the newest member of the family.